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Two pedestrians struck, killed in separate incidents on Thanksgiving

Published: Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 6:09 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 12:24 a.m.

Two pedestrians died hours apart while crossing busy roadways on Thanksgiving Day, according to area law enforcement officials.

The first fatality occurred shortly before 1:15 a.m. when a vehicle traveling east on Southwest 10th Street struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk on the west side of the intersection of South Pine Avenue, a witness told the Ocala Police Department. The vehicle then left the scene, traffic homicide investigator Harold Compton said.

Another witness told police she saw the pedestrian running south in the crosswalk who then was hit by a vehicle heading east, which then drove away.

The deceased, William McDonald, 23, from Ocala, was home for the holiday from college, officials said.

Police later interviewed a man who said he was a passenger in a red Chevrolet Trailblazer that struck a pedestrian before fleeing the scene. The man said his friend, Joseph M. Stewart, 25, of Ocala, was driving the SUV east on Southwest 10th Street and had hit someone at South Pine Avenue. The man said he told Stewart to stop but that his friend drove away. The man said that when Stewart stopped at a stop sign, he exited the SUV, and Stewart drove away.

Stewart later called police from a residence located in the 200 block of Southeast 32nd Avenue, saying he had been involved in a crash. Compton went to the residence and talked with Stewart, who reportedly told him he left the scene because he panicked. He said he had two whiskeys before the crash, according to police.

Stewart then was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death. He was transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was released on $10,000 bail a little more than an hour after he arrived.

At the jail, blood was taken from Stewart.

According to court records, Stewart has an extensive traffic violation history that ranges from speeding and not wearing a seat belt to careless driving.

Stewart also was convicted in October 2009 of reckless driving involving alcohol, a second-degree misdemeanor, and was sentenced to a year of probation.

The second fatality occurred around 7:40 p.m. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said a 2001 silver Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by John Syme, 40, of Ocala, was heading north on U.S. 301 in the right lane when it struck Patrick Joseph Wisocky, 42, of Summerfield, who was walking in the right lane.

Wisocky was killed on his birthday after leaving a popular bar in the community of Dallas called the Dallas Inn, located far not from the intersection of County Road 42 and U.S. 301.

Troopers said Wisocky was crossing the busy roadway when the accident occurred, roughly four-tenths of a mile south of CR 42. Parts of the roadway where the accident occurred is dark.

It's unknown if alcohol was a factor. Troopers said speed was not a factor. The investigation is ongoing.

Patrons at the bar declined comment to a Star-Banner reporter.

Syme reportedly said he was on his way home and did not see Wisocky, who he said was in the middle of the roadway.

<p>Two pedestrians died hours apart while crossing busy roadways on Thanksgiving Day, according to area law enforcement officials.</p><p>The first fatality occurred shortly before 1:15 a.m. when a vehicle traveling east on Southwest 10th Street struck a pedestrian in the crosswalk on the west side of the intersection of South Pine Avenue, a witness told the Ocala Police Department. The vehicle then left the scene, traffic homicide investigator Harold Compton said.</p><p>Another witness told police she saw the pedestrian running south in the crosswalk who then was hit by a vehicle heading east, which then drove away.</p><p>The deceased, William McDonald, 23, from Ocala, was home for the holiday from college, officials said.</p><p>Police later interviewed a man who said he was a passenger in a red Chevrolet Trailblazer that struck a pedestrian before fleeing the scene. The man said his friend, Joseph M. Stewart, 25, of Ocala, was driving the SUV east on Southwest 10th Street and had hit someone at South Pine Avenue. The man said he told Stewart to stop but that his friend drove away. The man said that when Stewart stopped at a stop sign, he exited the SUV, and Stewart drove away.</p><p>Stewart later called police from a residence located in the 200 block of Southeast 32nd Avenue, saying he had been involved in a crash. Compton went to the residence and talked with Stewart, who reportedly told him he left the scene because he panicked. He said he had two whiskeys before the crash, according to police.</p><p>Stewart then was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death. He was transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was released on $10,000 bail a little more than an hour after he arrived. </p><p>At the jail, blood was taken from Stewart.</p><p>According to court records, Stewart has an extensive traffic violation history that ranges from speeding and not wearing a seat belt to careless driving.</p><p>Stewart also was convicted in October 2009 of reckless driving involving alcohol, a second-degree misdemeanor, and was sentenced to a year of probation.</p><p>The second fatality occurred around 7:40 p.m. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said a 2001 silver Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by John Syme, 40, of Ocala, was heading north on U.S. 301 in the right lane when it struck Patrick Joseph Wisocky, 42, of Summerfield, who was walking in the right lane.</p><p>Wisocky was killed on his birthday after leaving a popular bar in the community of Dallas called the Dallas Inn, located far not from the intersection of County Road 42 and U.S. 301.</p><p>Troopers said Wisocky was crossing the busy roadway when the accident occurred, roughly four-tenths of a mile south of CR 42. Parts of the roadway where the accident occurred is dark.</p><p>It's unknown if alcohol was a factor. Troopers said speed was not a factor. The investigation is ongoing.</p><p>Patrons at the bar declined comment to a Star-Banner reporter.</p><p>Syme reportedly said he was on his way home and did not see Wisocky, who he said was in the middle of the roadway.</p><p><i>Staff writer Vishal Persaud contributed to this report.</i></p>